The Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática has just published the first ever Red Data Book for Cuban terrestrial vertebrates. The book provides a detailed baseline on the conservation status for 165 species of freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Zapata Rail is a very poorly-known waterbird now confined to the Zapata Swamp in western Cuba. The bird’s elusive nature has caused confusion within the ornithological community as to its status – confusion that may have unwittingly provided a smoke screen to a very real threat that may be driving the species to extinction.